But what was really unusual about Brian was that he didn’t belong to any group at school. He could hang around with his sporty friends as easily as he could hang with the nerds and he flitted around at break times, bouncing around with his ever-present ball, to whoever took his fancy at the time. Somehow it made Brian even more of an enigma and even more popular. That wasn’t to say he wasn’t a target – he’d also been called a sport-nut, Dumbo (on account of his rather large ears), a numpty and all the rest, but Brian always assumed it was in jest and played up to it, usually making everyone laugh in the process. Paul wondered if Brian had met Mohican yet and asked him as much.

‘Danny Lewis?’ asked Brian, as they sat on a log, their bikes beside them. ‘Yeah, he’s on the rugby team. Ferocious guy,’ he added, almost in awe. ‘Glad he’s on our team and we don’t have to play against him!’ Brian laughed, and Paul wondered how he and his friend could have such different experiences of the same boy.

‘So,’ started Brian, slipping the ball into his pocket, and Paul knew he was going to come back to Claire. ‘Have you asked her out yet?’

‘No,’ replied Paul, despondently. It had been on his mind as well. He’d had several opportunities in the library but every time he’d bottled it.

‘Why not? She’s come to the library – what – twice now to sit with you?’

‘Four times,’ corrected Paul immediately.

‘Whoa! And you haven’t asked her?’

‘I know, I know. I just didn’t know how to… where to…’

‘Listen,’ said Brian. ‘It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just take her to the cinema again. That’s what my brother always does. He says it’s the best place if you want to, you know…’ Brian had trailed off and looked embarrassed his fingers automatically reaching for his ball as he started throwing it between his two palms.

‘What?’ asked Paul.

‘Well, you know, cop a feel,’ mumbled Brian.

Paul imagined his hand sliding up Claire’s top, the darkness of the cinema shrouding them as his fingers gradually felt the curve of her breast. He couldn’t breathe just thinking about it, so what would the real thing be like?

Paul stood up resolutely and looked at Brian. ‘I’m going to do it. I’m going to ask her the next time she comes into the library.’

His friend looked up with his trademark grin and optimism. ‘Go for it. She’ll say yes, for sure.’

*